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American Coryn Rivera sprints to Women’s Tour of Flanders victory

American Coryn Rivera (Sunweb) celebrated her second UCI Women's WorldTour win of the season as she crossed the line victorious at Tour of Flanders on Sunday, April 2, 2017. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

A week after finishing third at Gent-Wevelgem, 24-year-old American Coryn Rivera (Sunweb) sprinted to a sensational victory at the women’s Tour of Flanders on Sunday.

Rivera, who posted her first UCI Women’S WorldTour win at Trofeo Alfredo Binda in March, outkicked two-time Australian road race champion Gracie Elvin (Orica-Scott) and last year’s Gent-Wevelgem winner Chantal Blaak (Boels-Dolmans) in a select bunch sprint in the 153.3km cobbled classic – the longest race of the WWT this season.

After what appeared to be a potential four-rider break racing to the finish uncontested with 30km remaining, a chase group of 15 was able to ride down Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle-High5), Anna Van Der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans), Katarzyna Niewadoma (WM3 Energie) and Annemie Van Vleuten (Orica-Scott) shortly after ascending the Patersberg, which marked the final climb of the day, to set up the hotly contested sprint finish.

Results, top 10

1. Coryn RIVERA, SUNWEB, in 4:02:38

2. Gracie ELVIN, ORICA-SCOTT, at :00

3. Chantal BLAAK, BOELS-DOLMANS, at :00

4. Annemiek VAN VLEUTEN, ORICA-SCOTT, at :00

5. Lotte KOPECKY, LOTTO SOUDAL LADIES, at :00

6. Elena CECCHINI, CANYON-SRAM, at :00

7. Rasa LELEIVYTE, AROMITALIA VAIANO, at :00

8. Katarzyna NIEWIADOMA, WM3 ENERGIE, at :00

9. Janneke ENSING, ALE CIPLOLLINI, at :00

10. Elisa LONGO BORGHINI, WIGGLE-HIGH5, at :00

“The team did a brilliant job keeping the leaders safe and in a good position throughout the race. When the going got tough the team animated the race with Rozanne taking a lead before the Kanarieberg,” said Rivera of her teammate Rozanne Slik’s solo attack at the 100km mark. “Here we showed our intentions to make it a hard race and when the first bunch of 30 exploded on the Kruisberg, we were up there but we couldn’t follow on the climb. The team gave everything on the Kwaremont to get the group back at the wheel and we almost closed it, but in the end we couldn’t follow the four best climbers.

“From the moment that Hans [Timmermans] made the call to go full gas for me, Ellen [van Dijk] took charge of the pace,” she continued. “The sprint was absolutely thrilling, but I still feel like I am dreaming.”

For Elvin, who tactically tucked into the chase group and eventually battled Rivera for the win, the second-place result was bittersweet and credited her Orica-Scott teammate who finished fourth.

“The win would’ve have been amazing, but I was so close today,” said the 28-year-old Australian after the race. “My best place in previous editions was not even in the front group, so to come here and be in the mix and try to go for the win is amazing.”

“It just goes to show all the hard work I’ve put in this season is paying off and how great the team was today. I really didn’t have to do much before the finish, everyone had a role to play and they did it brilliantly, especially Annemiek right at the end.

“She could have won today and I had to make sure I made the right decisions once that group had been caught. This is definitely a career highlight for me, I’ve been dreaming about this for a long time and after coming so close again and again I want to keep improving.”